Illusion amusement device.



G. E. HICKS & E. WIGAN. ILLUSION AMUSEMENT DEVIGE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1908.

924,068. Patented June 8, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'CECIL EUSTACE HICKS AND ERNEST WIGAN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND; SAID WIGAN ASSIGNOR.

TO SAID HICKS.

ILLUSION AMUSEMENT V DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed March 20, 1908. Serial No. 422,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CEoIL EUSTAOE Hicks and Emvns'r VVIGAN, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing, respectively, at 4 Atney road, Putney, and 64f East Dulwich Grove, Dulwich, both in London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Illusion Amusement Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved illusion amusement device; the principal object being to obtain an effect approximating the movements of a ship at sea and the experience of a voyage or water trip; the

aforesaid movements taking place simultaneously with those of moving scenery, pictures or panorama.

In connection with this kind of amusement device, it has been proposed to simulate the effect and experience of a journey in a railway train but the movements incidental to such device are of a different order to those pertaining to a sea voyage and therefore the mechanism employed is necessarily of a totally different type. It has also been proposed to employ fixed scenery inclosing a ship or ships and a surface representing the sea arranged for being actuated by an arrangement of eccentrics and links so as to imitate pitching, rolling and heaving motions.

According to our invention, the device comprises a staging or platform, representing, say, the deck of the ship or vessel, provided with a number of seats. The said platform is mounted and worked in such a manner as to be capable of a vertical or up and down movement combined with an oscillating or rocking movement, both laterally and longitudinally, so that, in conjunction with the moving pictures or panorama, the illusion of a sea voyage is rendered complete; the said combined movements being obtained by means of stretchers or thrust bars connected with the said platform and adapted for operation by a lever, the platform being guided in its vertical movement by a central stud or pin.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of the eX- terior of the front of the device showing the form rises or falls.

means of'approach and exit. Fig. 2 is a view of the device with the front part of the structure removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the chamber or apartment in which the platform is mounted and of the -mechanism and screen whereby the illusory effects are produced. Fig. 4 is aplan corresponding with Fig. 3.

To enable the passengers or observers to embark, the entrance steps a are provided, a

pay office 6 being situated at the entrance to the steps a.

0 is the door which closes the chamber (Z in which the platform 6 is mounted. f is an exit in the said chamber d and g a door whereby the passengers or observers are allowed to leave the device. The platform 6 is provided with seats 6 for the accommodation of the passengers or observers.

h is a screen whereon may be projected the pictures, any suitable projecting means (not shown) being employed for the purpose.

The'platform c is provided with a central stud or pin 6 which works in a bearing or hole formed in the upper end of a pedestal 6 The stud may thus move vertically in the said pedestal as the plat- The rising and falling and oscillating or tilting and rocking motions are imparted to the platform by means of .stretchers or thrust bars 91 and 2' and F, the same being connected at i and 2" with a lever is by the respective links and 1 0 The lever is is pivoted at 7: and the aforesaid stretchers are connected by hinge joints at and z" with the under side of the platform 0. The links is and 10 may be guided in blocks 70 70 The platform 6 may be steadied by means of chains or flexible connections 0 e 6 6, arranged in pairs, and crossed, at each end of the structure and having one end secured to the platform and the other to the wall or side of the chamber in which the platform is mounted.

Z is a capstan or drum about which is wound an endless chain or cable P; the cable being connected with the free end of the lever is.

Z Z are guide sheaves for the cable Z m, m are stops for arresting the heaving motion should the weight on the platform be unevenly distributed.

The sides of the chamber d are designed to represent a portion of the structure pertaining to the deck of a ship; the rear or entrance end of the chamber is closed so as l to exclude light while the opposite end of the said chamber is open so as to view the pictures projected upon the screen it.

Assuming the passengers or observers to t have taken their seats and the-doors c and f to have been closed, the performance begins by the desired pictures being projected upon i the screen it while by actuating the capstan l J and thereby the cable Z the lever 7a is operated and by means of the stretchers causes the aforesaid movements to be im parted to the platform 6. hen the lever 76 is moved in one direction the stretcher 2', 5 as will be readily understood, causes the! platform to rise, the central stud or pin j preserving the position of the platform 1 during such movement but allowing the platform to rock or tilt longitudinally. The stretchers 2' and 2", according to the direction of movement of the link A, alternately effect the rising and falling of the sides of the platfori Thus the movements of the latter are caused to simulate the heaving motion of a ship at sea. This together with the constantly changing pictures projected upon the screen complete the illusion, the passengers or occupants expe riencing all the characteristics of a sea voyage.

It will be readily apparent that the mech anism whereby the various movements of the platform are accomplished may be varied without departing from the essential feature of our invention.

lVhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an amusement device adapted to produce the illusory experience of a sea voyage or Water trip, the combination of a platform, stretchers or thrust bars connected to said platform, a slide connected with the said stretchers, a lever connected to said slide, a stretcher bar connected about the center of the platform, a slide for said bar, a connection with the said slide and the aforesaid lever, a central vertically moving stud on the platform, a pedestal for the said stud to work in, and means connected with the said lever for operating the same.

2. In an amusement device adapted to produce the illusory experience of a sea voyage or water trip, the combination of a platform, stretchers or thrust bars connected to one end of the said platform, a slide also conn ected with the said stretchers, a bell crank lever of which one arm is connected to the said slide, a stretcher bar connected about the center of the platform, a slide for said bar, a connection with the said slide and the other arm of the bell crank lever, a central stud at the under portion of the platform,

a pedestal for the said stud to work in, and means connected with the said lever for operating the same.

In an amusement device adapted to produce the illusory experience of a sea voyage or water tirip,the combination of a platform; stretchers or thrust bars connected to one end of the said platform, a slide also connected with the said stretchers, a bell crank lever of which one arm is connected to the said slide, a stretcher bar connected about the center of the platform, a slide for said bar, a connection with the said slide and the other arm of the bell crank lever, a central stud at the under portion of the platform, a pedestal, a bearing in the pedestal tor the said stud, flexible connections for stead ving the platform, and means connected with the lever for operating the same.

4-. In an amusement device adapted to produce the illusory experience of a sea voyage or water trip the mmbimition of moving scenery or pictures, a platform a chamber in which said platform is mounted, an entrance door and an exit door to the said chamber, stretchers or thrust bars connected to one end of the said platform, a slide also coir nected with the said stretchers, a bell crank lever having one arm connected. to the said slide, a stretcher bar connected about the center of the platform, a slide for said bar, a connection with the said slide and the other arm of the bell crank lever, a central. stud at the under portion of the platform, a pedestal for the said stud to work in and means connected with the said lever for operating the same.

In an amusement device adapted to produce the illusory experience of a sea voyage or water trip, the combination of movingscenery or pictures a platform, a chamber in which said platform is mounted, an entrance door and an exit door to the said chamber, stretchers or thrust bars connected to one end of the said platform, a slide also connected to the said stretchers, a bell crank lever of which one arm is connected to the said slide, a stretcher bar connected about the center of the platform, a slide for said bar, a connection with the said slide and the other arm of the bell crank lever, a ccntral stud at the under portion of the plat form, a pedestal, a bearing in the pedestal for the said stud, flexible connections for steadying the platform, and means connected with the lever for operating the same.

In testimony whereof we al'iix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CECIL EUC'JACE ll ICKH. ERNEST \VIGAN. Vitnesses:

F. L. Ram), R. LAMBRETII.

llti 

